Carbon County reports increasing employment opportunities in April

Carbon County experienced a 6.3 percent increase in the number of non-farm wage and salaried employment opportunities in the local labor market in April.

Last month, Carbon reported 9,405 jobs compared to the 8,845 employment opportunities registered in the county in April 2005, indicated the latest unemployment and economic data compiled by the Utah Department of Workforce Services.

At the state level, Utah's number of non-farm wage and salaried jobs registered a year-over increase of 4.2 percent in April 2006.

Approximately 47,900 employment opportunities have developed in the statewide economy within the last year. The increase raised the total wage and salary employment in Utah to 1,186,500.

Employment growth remained in the 4 percent range statewide, signaling consistency and sustainability in the Utah economy, noted the department of workforce services.

The job growth rate keeps Utah within the top five states nationwide for employment expansion, noted the department of workforce services' latest report.

The figure was down 0.9 percent from the 4.4 percent jobless rate experienced statewide in 2005.

Approximately 46,200 Utahns were unemployed in April 2006 compared to 55,100 in April, 2005.

"Utah's labor market indicators continue to signal a vibrant and growing Utah economy. The western United States is experiencing the most robust economic activity in the entire nation and Utah finds itself right in the middle of this energy," commented Mark Knold, department of workforce services economist.

"In addition to solid labor market indicators, Utah is also stable in other sectors. Affordable housing precludes any housing bubble, rising incomes and increasing wages support consumer spending and there are few discernable economic risks ahead. That's not to say the Utah economy can't or won't slow. But even if it did, it would still remain well above the national economic performance," continued Knold.

"At this point, only a minimal risk from an uncontrollable national energy situation would knock the Utah economic environment off its present positive course. The only groups having trouble in the current economic environment are some aspects of the business community who are not finding an abundant supply of skilled labor," explained the workforce services economist.

All industrial sectors contributed to Utah's employment growth between April 2005 and April 2006.

The professional and business services sector consists of approximately 154,400 jobs or 13 percent of Utah's employment base.

The professional and business services sector not only created the most jobs in the last year at 10,800, but posted one of the highest growth rates across the state at 7.6 percent.

The growth was distributed nearly equally in the high paying professional and technical sector and the flexible temporary help industry.

The two fastest growing tors in Utah during the last 12-month period were natural resources and construction.

Of key interest in the Castle Valley region, employment in the coal mining industry centered in the Price area also expanded in April.

In Utah, natural resource employment grew by 12.8 percent. Although the expansion translates into only 1,100 jobs, the growth rate shows the dynamic activity centered in the industry, pointed out the department of workforce services economist.

Construction's growth illustrates not only a booming industry, but exemplifies a thriving economy, noted the department of workforce services.

Trade, transportation and utilities added 8,000 jobs to the Utah economy for a growth rate of 3.6 percent in April. Trade represents the most direct avenue and conduit with consumer spending. When people buy consumer goods, in most cases, it is through retail outlets, pointed out the department of workforce services

The leisure and hospitality industry is an important component of Utah's economy, constituting slightly less than 10 percent of all employment statewide.

The industry expanded by 2.1 percent within the last 12-month period, with lodging and restaurants dominating the sector.

At the national level, the United States economy added 1.8 million jobs for an employment growth rate of 1.4 percent since April 2005.

Utah's economy created approximately 47,900 employment opportunities, for a growth rate of 4.2 percent.

The Utah additions represent about 2.6 percent of all the jobs created nationwide during the 12-month period from April 2005 to April 2006, concluded the department of workforce services.